Should you ask for the job?

As a job candidate who has spent countless hours applying for jobs and going on interviews, you may think employers have all the control during the hiring process and you have very little control yourself. Neither assumption is correct. Employers and candidates both need one another during the hiring process; it’s an equal relationship, even though at times it can feel one-sided.

One of the greatest areas of concern for candidates is landing the job. Most, however, feel awkward about asking for it. Even though interviewing is akin to sales in that you are talking about the benefits and features you bring to the employer there can be some misperceptions that accompany the sales “close.”

Most job candidates leave good interviews with a sense of hope, knowing the employer was interested in their background and wondering if an offer is near. Asking for the job at the end of the interview sounds like an easy solution instead of waiting for an offer. For the majority of candidates, the last moments of an interview can be the most challenging when the desire to work meets the emotional aspects of feeling like you are begging for a job.

Truth be told, even though it may feel as though the interview is one-sided with the power being in the hands of the employer, asking for the job does not make you less powerful; it makes you a confident candidate who is interested in contributing.

Asking for the job is a balancing act of listening and asking questions. For example, candidates who are nervous tend to exhibit two types of reactions during interviews: they are either too talkative or too brief with one liners that barely give the facts.

Being too talkative has its downside in that you may misread the cues of when to stop and, if not careful, talk yourself out of a job. On the other hand, sticking to the facts with only a couple of sentences or brief explanations does not give the interviewer any depth to your experience nor does it distinguish your background compared to others.

Listening is the key to asking great questions. The questions you ask help “sell” your qualifications throughout the interview. The right questions help the employer conclude you are the right candidate.

So when do you ask for the job? All the way through the interview. Keep in mind that how you close an interview will most likely be how interviewers remember you.

Even though you have talked about your accomplishments throughout the interview using the SAR (situation, action and results) model, never leave an interview without confirming the next steps in the hiring process.

When thanking the interviewer, ask if you could leave them with one thought and then briefly recap your interests, the strong match between their needs and your experience. Clarify how you may follow up with them, whether it’s by phone or email.

You might be surprised to know that employers often choose the candidate who shows enthusiasm and interest. It’s a compliment to the employer when you convey your interest in wanting to work for them.